All business visa applicants to Saudi Arabia will now have to obtain a pre-approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
The pre-approval must be taken before a Business Visit Visa application is submitted.
Invitation letters for Commercial and Work Visit Visas that were used before will no longer be needed.
The approval can be obtained online through the ministry's website and is expected to extend the overall processing time for the visa.
Meta ordered to pay $567 million in New Mexico for teen mental health fund
A New Mexico state court ordered Meta on Thursday to pay $567 million into a teen mental health fund and change how its platforms function for young users after finding the company is to blame for harming children's wellbeing.
UAE sets minimum excise price for e-cigarette liquids
The UAE Ministry of Finance has announced a new decision setting a minimum excise price for liquids used in electronic smoking devices and tools.
Meta apologises to India for restricting PM Modi's post
Meta Platforms' Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan apologised to India's information technology minister for briefly restricting a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July.
Dubai Duty Free to offer payment in cryptocurrency
Dubai Duty Free has become the first airport retailer in the Middle East to introduce the regulated digital payment solution Crypto Pay.
UAE's GDP grows by 3% to AED485 billion in first quarter of 2026
The UAE's real gross domestic product grew by 3 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 to reach AED485 billion, reflecting the resilience of the national economy despite the regional challenges.
The UAE has joined Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt in strongly condemning the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has discussed the latest regional developments with Secretary-General of the Arab League Nabil Fahmy.
The UAE Aid Agency has announced urgent humanitarian assistance for people affected by severe flooding in Bangladesh following heavy monsoon rains.
